Tee Keat Denies He Will Join DAP the Malaysian Insider January 15 , 2012 by Yow Hong Chieh

Tee Keat denies he will join DAP The Malaysian Insider January 15 , 2012 By Yow Hong Chieh

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — Former MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has dismissed rumours that he intends to leave MCA for opposition party DAP.

The Pandan MP told Bernama Online he had met with opposition leaders recently but denied holding any talks with them about joining Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“Previously, they said I will join PKR. After that was proven to be not true, they said I will join the DAP on January 20. What next, PAS?” the state news agency quoted him as saying today.

Online news portals claimed last October that Ong (picture) had met with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor DAP chief Teresa Kok separately, possibly to discuss his defection to PR.

The Pandan MP, however, denied the reports.

In a interview published by an English-language daily last week, Ong vowed to defend his seat — where he remains popular with voters — even if he is dropped as a candidate by MCA.

The Star today reported MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as saying he Ong would have to submit a request to the party and Barisan Nasional (BN) if the latter wished to contest in the next general election.

Ong’s denial today comes after two MCA grassroots leaders closely linked to him — Penang MCA Youth chief Eng Hiap Boon and Johor MCA’s Taman Desa Skudai Flats deputy chairman James Wu Chee Heng — quit the party.